Africa

Toscotec to rebuild PM2 for Morocco’s Sipat

Toscotec has been awarded a contract to carry out a major rebuild of Moroccan producer Sipat’s PM2 tissue machine at its Meknes site.

The deal is required to meet a growing market demand for quality and increased production capacity, as well as to reduce energy consumption.

It includes a major rebuild of the original Toschi sloped wire forming section, which will be replaced with a Modulo Plus type crescent former with TT HEADBOX SL-T.

Toscotec will also rebuild the existing approach system and the felt run as well as YD doctoring system.

Sipat managing director Driss El Kendouci said the company’s growth in the tissue sector will be between 8-10%, and that this investment will have a fast pay-back.

He said: “There has been an evolution. In Africa, there has been more demand for quality, whether from westerners driving the need, or from more and more people moving from the countryside into cities.”

The project will be handled on an turnkey basis, including dismantling of the existing equipment, installation of the new machinery, start-up assistance and training services. The new machine parts will be designed for an operative speed up to 1,300mpm with a reel width of 2,750mm.

In 2009, Toscotec successfully completed the dry end modification of the same machine with the installation of a new steel dryer TT SYD 2500MM and relevant accessories.

The start-up of the rebuilt machine is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2012.

Sipat stands for Societe Industrielle Des Papiers Tissues and was established in 1978. It is owned by the El Kendouci family.

Sipat’s Meknes site in Morocco

The company has a production capacity of 16,000tpy: the Moroccan market absorbs 70%, while the remaining is exported to Senegal and Tunisia.

The production range includes mainly facial tissue, then toilet rolls, napkins, and kitchen towels.